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US5172276A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Structure for stabilizing image in optical system

Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1990-08-29
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Granted: 1992-12-15
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Expires: 2010-08-29
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Abstract

Abstract A structure for preventing an image being shaken when a vibration occurs in an optical system so as to stabilize the object. A compensating lens is incorporated in a third lens group of a lens barrel constituting the optical system. The compensating lens is allowed to move within the third lens group and only in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. A pulse motor mounted on a fixed barrel drives the compensating lens. The rotation of the pulse motor is converted into the rotation of an interlocking lever. The interlocking lever is a straight bar having an uncircular sectional configuration. A driving lever having approximately the same configuration as the sectional configuration of the interlocking lever is slidably inserted thereinto. The driving lever rotates together with the interlocking lever. One end of the driving lever penetrates through the frame of the third lens group, thus contacting the head portion of a pin which presses the compensating lens. When the driving lever rotates, the compensating lens is pressed through the pin. At a position opposed to the pin, a plate urged by a leaf spring supports the compensating lens. A mechanism for driving the compensating lens is provided in x-direction and y-direction with respect to the compensating lens. When the driving lever rotates in the opposite direction, the compensating lens is moved to the initial position by the elastic force of the leaf spring.

Inventors

  • 👤 Masayuki Ueyama
  • 👤 Tougo Teramoto
  • 👤 Shinichi Suzuki
  • 👤 Masaaki Miyano

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 22:50
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B5/00; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/02; G02B7/04; G02B7/10

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim 167 words
A structure for stabilizing an image for use in an optical system, comprising: a lens unit movably provided in said optical system; first urging means for urging said lens unit in one direction intersecting an optical axis of said optical system; second urging means for urging said lens unit in another direction intersecting the optical axis; first guiding means for guiding a movement of said lens unit in said one direction; second guiding means for guiding a movement of said lens unit in said another direction; first depressing means for depressing said lens unit against the urging force of said first urging means in response to a detection of a vibration of said optical system; second depressing means for depressing said lens unit against the urging force of said second urging means in response to a detection of a vibration of said optical system; and means, provided in said lens unit, for allowing said movements of said lens unit in said two directions independently of each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 167 words
A structure for stabilizing an image for use in an optical system, comprising: a lens unit movably provided in said optical system; first urging means for urging said lens unit in one direction intersecting an optical axis of said optical system; second urging means for urging said lens unit in another direction intersecting the optical axis; first guiding means for guiding a movement of said lens unit in said one direction; second guiding means for guiding a movement of said lens unit in said another direction; first depressing means for depressing said lens unit against the urging force of said first urging means in response to a detection of a vibration of said optical system; second depressing means for depressing said lens unit against the urging force of said second urging means in response to a detection of a vibration of said optical system; and means, provided in said lens unit, for allowing said movements of said lens unit in said two directions independently of each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 45 words
A structure as stated in claim 1, wherein said allowing means includes a first driven surface elongated along said one direction and depressed by said second depressing means and a second drive surface elongated along said another direction and depressed by said first depressing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
A structure as stated in claim 1 further comprising means for restricting a movement of said lens unit in a direction along the optical axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 163 words
A structure for stabilizing an image for use in an optical system, comprising: a lens unit movably provided in said optical system; a holding means for movably holding said lens first urging means, provided on said holding means, for urging said lens unit in one direction intersecting an optical axis of said optical system; second urging means, provided on said holding means, for urging said lens unit in another direction intersecting the optical axis; first guiding means for guiding a movement of said lens unit in said one direction; second guiding means for guiding a movement of said lens unit in said another direction; first depressing means for depressing said lens unit against an urging force of said first urging means in response to a detection of a vibration of said optical system; and second depressing means for depressing said lens unit against an urging force of said second urging means in response to a detection of a vibration of said optical system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 163 words
A structure for stabilizing an image for use in an optical system, comprising: a lens unit movably provided in said optical system; a holding means for movably holding said lens first urging means, provided on said holding means, for urging said lens unit in one direction intersecting an optical axis of said optical system; second urging means, provided on said holding means, for urging said lens unit in another direction intersecting the optical axis; first guiding means for guiding a movement of said lens unit in said one direction; second guiding means for guiding a movement of said lens unit in said another direction; first depressing means for depressing said lens unit against an urging force of said first urging means in response to a detection of a vibration of said optical system; and second depressing means for depressing said lens unit against an urging force of said second urging means in response to a detection of a vibration of said optical system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 26 words
A structure as stated in claim 4 further comprising means for allowing said movements of said lens unit in said two directions independently of each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 45 words
A structure as stated in claim 5, wherein said allowing means includes a first driven surface elongated along said one direction and depressed by said second depressing means and a second driven surface elongated along said another direction and depressed by said first depressing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 24 words
A structure as stated in claim 4, further comprising for restricting a movement of said lens unit in a direction along the optical axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 158 words
A structure for stabilizing an image for use in an optical system having a plurality of lens units along an optical axis, comprising: a lens unit movably provided in said optical system relative to the other lens units in a direction off of the optical axis; a first member stationarily provided in said optical system; a second member, provided in said optical system, for holding said lens unit at a neutral position and mounting said lens unit so that it can move in two different directions within a surface intersecting an optical axis of said optical system; producing means, provided on said first member, for producing a power for driving said lens unit in the two directions in response to a detection of a vibration of said optical system, and an urging means for urging said lens unit against the driving power produced from said producing means so as to return said lens unit to the neutral position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 158 words
A structure for stabilizing an image for use in an optical system having a plurality of lens units along an optical axis, comprising: a lens unit movably provided in said optical system relative to the other lens units in a direction off of the optical axis; a first member stationarily provided in said optical system; a second member, provided in said optical system, for holding said lens unit at a neutral position and mounting said lens unit so that it can move in two different directions within a surface intersecting an optical axis of said optical system; producing means, provided on said first member, for producing a power for driving said lens unit in the two directions in response to a detection of a vibration of said optical system, and an urging means for urging said lens unit against the driving power produced from said producing means so as to return said lens unit to the neutral position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 125 words
A structure for stabilizing an image for use in an optical system, comprising: a lens unit movable provided in said optical system; a first member stationarily provided in said optical system; a second member, provided in said optical system, for holding said lens unit at its neutral position and allowing said lens unit to move in two different directions within a surface intersecting an optical axis of said optical system; producing means, provided on said first member, for producing a power for driving said lens unit in the two directions in response to a detection of a vibration of said optical system, and means provided in said lens unit, for allowing a movement of said lens unit in the two directions independently of each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 125 words
A structure for stabilizing an image for use in an optical system, comprising: a lens unit movable provided in said optical system; a first member stationarily provided in said optical system; a second member, provided in said optical system, for holding said lens unit at its neutral position and allowing said lens unit to move in two different directions within a surface intersecting an optical axis of said optical system; producing means, provided on said first member, for producing a power for driving said lens unit in the two directions in response to a detection of a vibration of said optical system, and means provided in said lens unit, for allowing a movement of said lens unit in the two directions independently of each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 103 words
A structure for stabilizing an image for use in a phototaking lens of a camera comprising: a lens unit movably provided in said phototaking lens; a first member stationarily provided in said phototaking lens; a second member, provided in said phototaking lens, for holding said lens unit at its neutral position and allowing said lens unit to move in two different directions within a surface intersecting an optical axis of said phototaking lens, and a driving motor, provided on said first member, for driving said lens unit in the two directions in response to a detection of a vibration of said phototaking lens.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 103 words
A structure for stabilizing an image for use in a phototaking lens of a camera comprising: a lens unit movably provided in said phototaking lens; a first member stationarily provided in said phototaking lens; a second member, provided in said phototaking lens, for holding said lens unit at its neutral position and allowing said lens unit to move in two different directions within a surface intersecting an optical axis of said phototaking lens, and a driving motor, provided on said first member, for driving said lens unit in the two directions in response to a detection of a vibration of said phototaking lens.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 37 words
A structure as stated in claim 10, further comprising an urging means for urging said lens unit against the driving power produced by said driving motor so as to return said lens unit to the neutral position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 31 words
A structure as stated in claim 10, further comprising means, provided in said lens unit, for allowing a movement of said lens unit in the two directions independently of each other.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 68 words
A structure for stabilizing an image for use in an optical system, comprising: a lens unit movably provided in said optical system; driving means for driving said lens unit in response to a detection of a vibration of said optical system; supporting means for supporting said lens unit to allow a movement thereof, wherein said supporting means includes means for mechanically smoothing the movement of said lens unit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 68 words
A structure for stabilizing an image for use in an optical system, comprising: a lens unit movably provided in said optical system; driving means for driving said lens unit in response to a detection of a vibration of said optical system; supporting means for supporting said lens unit to allow a movement thereof, wherein said supporting means includes means for mechanically smoothing the movement of said lens unit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 32 words
A structure as stated in claim 13, wherein said smoothing means includes a guiding plate made of metal and a ball made of metal for moving on a surface of said plate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 137 words
A structure for stabilizing an image for use in a photo-taking lens of a camera composed of plural lens units comprising: a lens unit movable in two different directions within a surface intersecting an optical axis of said photo-taking lens, wherein said lens unit is located near an aperture; producing means for producing a power for driving said lens unit in the two different directions; supporting means for supporting said lens unit to allow a movement thereof, wherein said supporting means is movable along the optical axis; a first mechanism, provided on said supporting means, for moving said lens unit mechanically by using the driving power produced from said producing means in response to a detection of a vibration of the photo-taking lens; and a second mechanism for moving said supporting means mechanically along the optical axis.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 137 words
A structure for stabilizing an image for use in a photo-taking lens of a camera composed of plural lens units comprising: a lens unit movable in two different directions within a surface intersecting an optical axis of said photo-taking lens, wherein said lens unit is located near an aperture; producing means for producing a power for driving said lens unit in the two different directions; supporting means for supporting said lens unit to allow a movement thereof, wherein said supporting means is movable along the optical axis; a first mechanism, provided on said supporting means, for moving said lens unit mechanically by using the driving power produced from said producing means in response to a detection of a vibration of the photo-taking lens; and a second mechanism for moving said supporting means mechanically along the optical axis.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 18 words
A structure as stated in claim 15, wherein said second mechanism includes a cam and a cam follower.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 124 words
In an optical system, having a plurality of lens units along an optical axis for stabilizing an image from external vibration, the improvement comprising: a lens unit provided, in the optical system, for movement in directions off of the optical axis relative to the other lens units; mounting means for mounting the lens unit for movement in a plurality of directions off of the optical axis including a first force transmitting member mechanically transmitting a force along a first direction to the lens unit and a second force transmitting member mechanically transmitting a force along a second direction, different than the first direction to the lens unit, and means for selectively driving the first and second force transmitting member to compensate for external vibrations.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 124 words
In an optical system, having a plurality of lens units along an optical axis for stabilizing an image from external vibration, the improvement comprising: a lens unit provided, in the optical system, for movement in directions off of the optical axis relative to the other lens units; mounting means for mounting the lens unit for movement in a plurality of directions off of the optical axis including a first force transmitting member mechanically transmitting a force along a first direction to the lens unit and a second force transmitting member mechanically transmitting a force along a second direction, different than the first direction to the lens unit, and means for selectively driving the first and second force transmitting member to compensate for external vibrations.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 16 words
The optical system of claim 17, wherein the mounting means is movable along the optical axis.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 17 words
The optical system of claim 17, wherein the optical system is a zoom lens system for phototaking.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 33 words
The optical system of claim 17, wherein biasing means are provided to provide a counter force relative to each of the force transmitting members on the respective opposite sides of the lens unit.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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JPS557568A Cited
JPS5614226A Cited
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US4419614A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-12-15 1996-06-15 1996-12-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-12-15 2000-06-15 2000-12-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-12-15 2004-06-15 2004-12-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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